Wall and corner guide



Dec. 27, 1955 Filed oct. '15, 1954 E. l.. BETTERTON 2,728,142

WALL AND CORNER GUIDE 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. EDWARD L. BETTER-vou ATTOQHEYS Dec. 27, 1955 E. L. BET'rI-:RTON

WALL AND CORNER GUIDE 2 Sheets-SheetI 2 Filed Oct. 15, 1954 ATTQQNEYS United States Patent-O WALL AND CORNER GUIDE Edward L. Betterton, El Cajon, Calif.

Application October 15, 1954, Serial No. 462,575

4 Claims. (Cl. 33-85) This invention relates to improvements in bricklayers guides, and more particularly to a novel and more eilicient and practical device of this kind which is especially devised for building corners, but can also be used in building straight walls between corners, of either brick or blocks of varying sizes. v

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated above which is of simpler and more easily usable form, which is more quickly and accurately adjustable to different. conditions, and which enables more accurate and uniform work in less time and with less effort on the part of a worker.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific embodiment of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an inside perspective view of a device in accordance with the present invention, showing application thereof to an upper course of a corner; Y

Figure 2 is an outside perspective view, on a reduced scale, showing application of the device to a foundation;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary and contracted inside elevation, showing application of the device to an upper course of a straight wall; i

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken through a lower part'of the device of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse section taken on the line- 5&5 of Figure 3; and,

Figure 6 is a similarly enlarged vertical transverse section taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated corner guide, generally designated 9, comprises two similar right triangular sections 10, 10.

Each section 10 comprises an angle iron base member 11, a channel altitude member 12, and a hypotenuse or diagonal member 13, secured together in rigid relation to each other by any suitable means, such as welding.

Each base member 11 has a horizontal ilange 14 and a vertical llange 15 on the outer edge of the horizontal flange 14. The altitude member 12 has spaced parallel outer and inner flanges 16 and 17, respectively. The diagonal or hypotenuse member 13 has a vertical flange 18 and a laterally inwardly directed flange 19.

The altitude members 12, 12 are hingedly connected together, preferably by a piano hinge 20 which is secured to the altitude members at the intersection of the inner anges 16 with the web 21 of the members 12, 12. The resultant hinging of the sections 10 together not only provides for compactly collapsing the sections 10 upon each other for storage and transportation, but provides for angulating the sections 10, 10 relative to each other to conform to different building corner angles.

The diagonal members 13 and the altitude members 12 have horizontally aligned notch and slot formations 2,728,142 Patentedk Dec. 27, 17955 ICC level guide line 22. The line 22 has weights, such asA plumb bobs 23, 23 on its opposite ends, which are preferably adjustable along the line 22, the principal function of the weights 23 being to tighten the line 22 and eliminate slack therein.

The said notch and slot formations include V-shaped notches 24 and 25 in the diagonal member llanges 18 and 19, respectively, and downwardly angulated slots 26 in the inner ilanges 16 of the altitude members 13. The lower ends of the slots 26 terminate in rounded openings 27 through which the line 22 can be readily slid. The said notches and slots are spaced along the altitude members 12, 12 and the diagonalmembers 13, 13 at intervals corresponding to desired heights of diterent courses of bricks or blocks. The line 22 is disposed in the described notches and slots with the weight equipped ends thereof outside of the hypotenuse members 13, 13 when the device is used as in Figure 1; and inside of the hypotenuse members 13, 13 when used as in Figure 2.

When the device is used on a corner foundation 28, as shown in Figure 2, the foundation being composed of angularly related members 29 and 30, the sections 10, 10 of the device are supported upon the members 29 and 30 by means of several adjustable levelling assemblies 31, located on the base members 11, 11 at points intermediate of and spaced from the altitude members 12, 12 and the outer ends of the basel members 11.

As shown in Figure 5, each levelling assembly comprises a vertical bolt 32, threaded upwardly through the horizontal llange 14 of a base member 11 and having an enlarged head 33 on its lower end. An annular spacer 34 is circumposed on the bolt 32 between the head 33 and the underside of the ilange 14. A spacersleeve 35 is circumposed on the bolt 32 above and spaced from the ilange 1,4 and a helical spring 136'is circumposed on the bolt 32 and is Vcompressed between the ilange 14 and the lower end of the sleeve 35.; A'levelling lug 37 has at one end aY hole 38 rotatably receiving the bolt 32 at the upper end of the sleeve 35 and a free end portion 39. A nutitl is threaded on the bolt 32 and bears down upon the levelling lug'37.

v As a course of bricks orblocks 41 isl laid upon the foundation 28,* w'ith the levelling lugs 37 turned out of the way, the levelling lugs are turnd to overlie the top of the course, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. As the corner walls are built up, the device 9 is lifted, where desirable, and the levelling lugs 37 placed upon the tops of upper courses 41.

For preventing falling of the device 9 from position, the base members 11, 11 are provided at their outer or free ends with clamp assemblies 42, 42, each of which, as shown in Figure 6, comprises a bolt 43 threaded downwardly through a base member llange 14 and having a wrench head 44 on its upper end. Threaded on an intermediate part of the bolt 43 are upper and lower adjusting nuts 45 and 46, respectively. These nuts engage the upper and lower sides of a clamp plate 47, with the bolt 43 passing through a longitudinal slot 48 provided in the inner end of the clamp plate 47. The outer end of the clamp plate 47 has therein a depending flange 49. The slot 48 provides for adjusting the clamp plate 47 for different widths of bricks or blocks. As shown in Figure 6, the clamp plates 47, when properly adjusted, rest upon the top of a wall course with the depending ilange engaged with a side of the course with the free edge of the base member flange 14 engaged with the opposite side of the course, whereby transverse shifting of the base member 11 concerned is precluded.

The base members 11, 11 have additional levelling bolts 50, 50 at their inner ends near the altitude members 12, 12.- The levelling bolts 50, 50 are threaded downwardly through the base member .flanges .14, 14. and have heads 51 on their upperI ends.

The device 9 is used at the outside edge of a corner, as showny in Figure 2, withk thelweights 23 latt-he inner's-ides' of the diagonalmembers. 13, 13,. the line 22 being located at the outer side off-the; altitude kmembers 12-, 1-2l and disposed in notches 52 provided in the flanges` 16, 16 of the altitude members 12, 12 where they meet. the webs 2-1. The line 22 is disposed in the slotsf 26 in the altitude members 12, 12 whenrthe weights 23, 23 are locatedy at the` outer sides of the diagonal members 13, 13, as shown in Figure ,1.

Figures 3 and.4 show the device 9y in use on a straight wall, and, in. this instance thesections 110, 1.0l are hinged into mutually aligned positions-along the wall or founda tion, the installation` being -in1 this case otherwise the same as for a corner.

As a wall or a corner'is built up, the. device 9 being left inposition on af'oundation or lower course, the line 22 is raised andpositioned in selectedy upper onesl of the described notches and/or slots, so asto serve as a guide line for the tops of succeeding'courses.

What is claimed is:

1. In a wall and corner guide, a pair of similar right triangular sections each having a base member, an altitude member, and a diagonal member, said members being in xed relation to each other, a line having plumb bobs on its opposite ends, said line having an intermediate portion and end portions including said opposite ends, first means on said altitude members and second means on said diagonal members for suspending said line with its intermediate portion parallel to said base members and its end portions depending toward said` base members, and levelling means comprising levelling assemblies spacedfrom each other along said base members, said levelling assemblies comprising vertically adinstable elements having lower ends disposed below the level of saidbase members.

2. In a wall and corner guide, a pair of similar right' triangular sections each having a base member, an altitude member, and a diagonal member, said members being in fixed relation to each other, a line having plumb bobs. on its oppositev ends, said line having an intermediate portion and end portions including said opposite' ends, lirst means on said altitude members land second meanson said diagonal members for` suspendingv said line with its intermediatel portion parallel toV said base mem.-

bers. land itsfend portions ldepending toward saidbase members, and levelling means comprising levelling assemblies spaced from each other along said base members, said levelling assemblies comprising vertically adjustable elements having lower ends disposed below the level of said base members and levelling lugs threaded on said elements above said base members.

3. In a Wall and corner guide, a pair of similar right triangular sections each having a base member, an altitude member, and av diagonal member, said members being in fixed relation to each other, a line having plumb bobs` on itsV opposite ends, said line having an intermediate portion and end portions including said opposite ends, first means on said altitude members and second means on said diagonal members for suspending said line with its intermediate portion parallel to said base members, and levelling means comprising levelling assemblies spaced ifrom each other alongsaid base members, said levelling assemblies comprising vertically adjustable'felements-having lower ends disposed below the level of said base members, saidv levelling means including levelling bolts threaded downwardly through said base members near said altitude members and having lower ends positioned belowf said lbase members.

4. I-n awall and corner guide, a pair of similar right triangular sections each having a base member, an altitude member, and a diagonal member, said members being in fixed relation to each other, a line having plumb bobs on `its opposite ends, said line having an intermediate` portion 'and end port-ions' including said opposite ends, rst means on said altitude members andV second means onv said diagonal members for suspending said line with its. intermediate portion4 parallel to said base members and its end portions depending toward said base members, and levelling means comprising levelling assemblies spaced from each other along said base members; said levelling assemblies comprising vertically adjustable elements having lower ends disposed below the levelV of' said base members and spring means tensioning said elementsfin one direction.

References Cited inthe leI of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,410,481 Landon Mar. 21, 1922 FOREIGN PATENTS 710,139 Great Britain June 9, 1954 

